Policies and Prime Ministership of Gough Whitlam

Policies and point Ministership of Gough Whitlam Question (a) Write an outline of the changes made by Gough Whitlam when he was Australias Prime Minister. Overview oWide-ranging reform plan oAimed to quickly change the social aspects of society, kinda than solving Australias economic problems oWhitlams key principles were ?Equality of opportunity ?Promotion of the Australian identity oPost-Vietnam War policies oWhitlams policies addressed some social justice issues oForeign insurance policy oHuman rights (women + Indigenous) oMulticulturalism oPublic benefit National Identity Post-war policies ?abolition of conscription for topic service ?Immediate withdrawal from Vietnam ?Release of draftsmanship dodgers from prison Foreign insurance policy o china ?Official recognition of china within a fortnight of Whitlams Prime ministership. ?Embassies were either restored or constructed in each country ? Australian support of chinaware in the join Nations oPapua New Guinea granted s elf-governance (1973) and independence (1975) oDistancing Australia from American foreign policy o confederation Africa ?Banning of racially-based sporting teams from South Africa ?Condemnation of apartheid policy in South Africa oWhitlam supported 13 international human rights initiatives Human Rights oWomen ?Office of Womens Affairs ?Promoted policies that would help women achieve equality ? Wages ?Creation of the cock-a-hoop wage to re office staff notions of separate male and female wages ? encourage more women to work and enjoy working ?Divorce ?The no-fault divorce principle, as part of the Family Law impress (1975) ? Removed the guilty label which had antecedently undermined rights in custody disputes and property settlements ? Divorce without reasons Maternity Leave ? encompassing maternity leave for single m separates to aid the costs while assuage retaining their original job. ?Removal of sales tax on contraceptive pills oIndigenous Australians ?self-rule policy ?The r ight of a group to choose and control its induce destiny ? Land rights ?Established the Royal Commission on immemorial Land Rights (1973) ? Some land (that was denied in the 1971 Gove land rights decision) was returned to the Gurindji people. ?Repeal of the Migration Acts ?Australian Aborigines no immenseer required permission to travel overseas ? alone of us Australians are diminished while the Aborigines are denied their rightful place in this nation. Gough Whitlam (1972). ?In 4 years, the budget for Aboriginal affairs increase from $23 million to $141 million Multiculturalism oAl Grassby became the new Minister for Immigration oWhite Australia Policy ?Abolition of this policy improved relations with nearby Asian countries ? racial Discrimination Act (1975) promoted understanding of other races and ethnic groups ? I was deep embarrassed by it the White Australia policy and did all I could to change it. Gough Whitlam (2001). oChanges to the Citizenship Act ?Immigrants from th e United Kingdom no longer took precedence over other Europeans and Asians oCommunity initiatives ?radio programs in community languages ?migrant education centres ?teacher stand in program with Italian giving medication ?interpreters for emergency phone calls Public gather o schooling ?Establishment of the Australian Schools Commission ?Disadvantaged Schools Program ?needs-based livelihood ? expand the re seeded players of poor schools ?Abolition of tertiary education school fees Government funding of tertiary education ?Increase from 9% (1960) to 42% (1975) oMedibank ?System of national health insurance ?Time-based bements vs. fee for service ?Break connection amidst healthcare and money ?Originally payed 85% of the medical bill oIncreased pensions ?25% of average adult weekly wage oPromotion of the Arts ?Improved facilities and pay for artists (musicians, artists, dancers, actors etc. ) ? Australian Film Commission ?National Film and idiot box School ?Australian National G allery oA program to bring sewer to all urban areasNational Identity oNew Australian passports no longer referred to as British subjects oAustralian national anthem oAustralian Heritage Commission Question (b) mensurate (make own judgement + facts) how important ONE of these changes has been to Australias development. Diplomatic dealings with China ?Whitlam believed that Australia were following the foreign policies of our allies for too long ? The rimed war mentality was no longer relevant ?He aphorism the potential economic gains and advantages of a long term relationship with China ? Communist party took over China Guomindang re-established itself in Taiwan ? galore(postnominal) countries (including Australia) effd the government in Taiwan as the official government of China ? Gough Whitlam wanted to form a relationship with communist China, as he believed that communism was not a threat ? The McMahon government refused to recognize the Peoples Republic of China ? In 1971, W hitlam (as Leader of the Opposition) visited China and promised Mao Zedong (the Chinese leader) that he would establish diplomatic relations with China, if he won the election the following year ?China became members of the United Nations in 1971, and throughout Whitlams prime ministership, Australia supported their representation. ?Australias recognition of China was a pivotal moment in our history. ?Economic ?Australia had bonds with the largest economy of the founding ? It gives us the boom in our resource industry ?Two-way plenty was $113 million in 1972 ?In 1973, a Trade Agreement was signed, granting plebeian most favoured nation status ? It is now exceeding $105 trillion (2011) ?Benefits for both countries ?Three underlying principles in the relationship Mutual measure ?Recognition of differences ?Strong resolve to build on the interests we share ?Education ?1972 no Chinese students in Australia ?Present 150 000 + Chinese students biggest source of foreign students oP ossible conclusion In 1949, Australia and China were divided by semipolitical differences, however Goughs Whitlam recognition of China in 1972 had resulted in 40 years of economic and social prosperity. Even though it involved the conclusion of the relationship with Taiwan, this major shift in foreign policy is praised for its long term successes.